NHL Power Rankings 2011 Weekly Update

The 2011-2012 NHL season is only four weeks old, but already the Washington Capitals are off to a roaring start. Let's take a look at some power rankings and see what the Internet at large is saying about where your team ranks overall.

At ESPN, they've got the Capitals sitting pretty as the number one team in all of hockey, topping the list ahead of the Detroit Red Wings and the Los Angeles Kings (which should give you some clue as to when this list was written. These power rankings were posted before the Caps suffered their first loss, but the sentiment in their blurb still rings true:

Tops in the NHL in goals per game (4.14) and tied for fifth in goals against (2.00). Now that's a recipe that explains the Caps' perfect record. And it's tough to top wins over Philadelphia and Detroit in the same week.

FOX Sports at MSN also has Washington as the number one overall team, coming in above the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks. If you'll forgive them the easy pun, here's what they have to say about your favorite team:

The Caps have a +16 goal differential, and by drubbing Detroit 7-1, they’ve added some capital atop the rankings.

Finally, who tops the power rankings over at The Hockey News? No real surprise there...once again, it's the Caps. THN singles out one short but sweet statistic that pretty much says it all:

Surging Capitals' goal differential is +16 - double the next-best number (Pittsburgh's +8)

Want to talk some more about the Caps? Of course you do! Join your fellow fans at Japers' Rink.